Author: Cynthia Johnson

June 16^th, 2013

It was early morning I was on my third load of dishes from a family barbeque last Saturday that stretched well into Sunday.  Odd as it sounds, I love that part of a family get together, when everyone has gone and the only thing left are the dishes.  I normally hate to do dishes in the evening, but there is something about washing dishes after a family gathering that is different; the time alone with my thoughts thinking quietly about the people who were just here, and also the people who are no longer here. read more

On Monday September 23^rd the Autumn Equinox occurred.  During an equinox we have almost equal amounts of light and dark.  Each day after and until the winter solstice we will continue to lose a little more sunlight each day. Traditionally this is known as harvest time; time to gather the summer up and tuck it away in our memories and  our cupboards to warm us for the coming winter.  For me, turning boxes of soft over ripened tomatoes into red liquid sunshine that I freeze and use throughout the winter months is so satisfying.  Like a tomato rescue, they are a few days away from being tossed out.  As if I am bottling up summer itself and hiding it in my freezer to savor again in soups and sauces throughout the coming winter.    I will miss walking out the front door in the mornings without shoes or jacket, sitting on the front porch waiting for the birds and squirrels to start begging for food and their happy chatter. read more